A charity cycling event set in the Broads has raised more than £25,000 for cancer.

Eastern Daily Press: Keen cyclists set off at the start line of the Tour de Broads cycle ride at the former RAF Coltishall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYKeen cyclists set off at the start line of the Tour de Broads cycle ride at the former RAF Coltishall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

The fourth Richardson's Tour de Broads, which was held in August, saw 2,600 cyclists steam around 16 Broads, four rivers and dozens of villages.

Macmillan Cancer Support, the official charity partner, has now revealed it raised more than £25,000 through the ride.

And Helen Rainbow, event organiser, said it was the 'biggest and best event' and that £25,000 only told 'half the story'.

'For Macmillan to have hit £25,000 is amazing but that is only half the story,' she said. 'How much was raised in total for other charities? We believe this figure could be more than £60,000.'

Eastern Daily Press: Keen cyclists set off at the start line of the Tour de Broads cycle ride at the former RAF Coltishall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYKeen cyclists set off at the start line of the Tour de Broads cycle ride at the former RAF Coltishall. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Emily Ford, challenge events manager at Macmillan, said 'We are so thrilled to have raised so much money already from the event this year. In 2015 our cyclists raised £15,000 so we set ourselves an ambitious target of hitting £25,000 for 2016, and we are nearly there.'

She said that 5,377 people in Norfolk are diagnosed with the disease every year and by 2030, the number of people living with or beyond the disease in Norfolk would fill Carrow Road two and a half times.

For more information, visit www.tourdebroads.com

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